You’d Think Spring Has Sprung…
… because I’ve been absent for so long! While it is officially ’spring’ according to the calendar, it’s not quite spring here in Alaska. My friends in the Lower 48 are seeing crocuses and daffodils blooming, while we still have snow-covered lawns and icy spots on the side roads. However, the weather has been beautiful lately, and that means we’ve been outdoors as much as possible.
AURORA - MARCH 16th
The aurora has been particularly active over the last week. Since my last blog entry nine (!) days ago, I had two occasions to photograph the northern lights, and several missed opportunities. With clear skies, and little moonlight, the glow of the aurora was quite the contrast against the starry skies.
About a week ago, a local friend posted a status update in Facebook announcing that the lights were out. It was close to midnight, and Steve was at work. I’m not fond of driving anywhere late at night (alone), because I have a problem with night vision, and I also have a huge fear of moose encounters on the road. In a car vs. moose situation, it almost never turns out well for either.
However, I just didn’t want to lose the opportunity for a light show, and the activity I could see from my driveway was bright enough to warrant a drive out to Nordale Rd. I took Sedona with me for company, and threw some winter gear in the back seat (since I only had my pjs on under my coat!)
Here are some of my favorite photographs from that night. As you can see, the light band was very low on the horizon, and the stars were brilliant in the sky (there was no moon):
